The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-11-16
THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE JAIL.
How the Prisoners Rested-Parsons' Death
Song-Testing the Gallows-Preparation
for the Execution.

How the Prisoners Rested-Parsons' Death
SOng-Testing the Gallows-Preparations
for the Execution.
How did the condemned men pass their last
night on earth-how did they sleep? Not very
we'll during the first part OF the night at II
o'clock Parsons was still awake, tossing uneas-
lily on his couch. Spies could not sleep, Ii ap-
peared. He remained twisting about with
wide-open eyes, and naturally his sense of hear
ing was acute. Certainly he must have heard
the sound made by tho carpenters when they
were putting up the gallows That could not
have escaped him very well, because it was
distinctly audible even in the Jail office, and the
door there WIS closed so "a to shut out all
sounds that might disturb the doomed mon.
At midnight the stiffness could not have been
greater. Perfect and entire QuietnoSs prevailed
Only the kissing noise OF the burning gas was
heard. few minutes before Parsons, moved
to the uttermost of feeling, sang Annie Laurie.
The gual ds were in his cell Ut the time. They
couldn I or wouldn't prevent his singing; but
rs his voice went UP in that old song stir
was noted in the cells on either side Of muir
derers row. The prisoners were awakened
They listened, their heads propped up on
their elbows to the homely but pathetic
ditty, and more than tinge Of sadness char
acterzed the plaintve voice of the singer He
was singing his death-song. Mayhap in years
ngone he sang Annie Laurie" to his little ones
ut home 1t was n favorite air Of his for at all
events it was the last one he would sing before
lying down for his last rest He slept well.
So did Engel and Fischer. Two guards were
in the cell of each man. Other guards
corridor were other guards, more guards
were in the Jail yard, and still more OF them
were outside and all around the Criminal
Court building. They all felt pretty secure for
only that afternoon. All afternoon civil
ginecrs had examined every street and thor
oughfare adjoining In u quest after explosive
mines. The engineers finished their examina-
ton toward nightfall, and their assurance was
to the effect that, despite all talk to the con
trary, there was no anarchist mine in any Of
the streets leading to the Jail or Criminal Court
building.
Before midnight, and while the anarchists
were either sleeping or feisning sleep, the gal
lows were put up. They are the used in
the execution of Mulkowsky and the three Ital-
ians. About l O'Clock Friday morning they
were tested, just as had been done in the case
of the Italians and they were found to operate
without any hindrarce.
A bag of sand weighing $50 pounds was swung
of four times. once from each rope, and with
no other effect than to stretch the rope trhie.
The ropes were of excellent quality, and en-
dured the test to the best advantage. Experts
who present said there wasn't doubt
but that the ropes could be depended on.
At two o'clock thero absolutely moth
ing undone. wagon had been driven up
to the Jail some timo before, and four collins
were taken out and deposited in the basement
adjoining the kitchen. That was the very last
preparation for the impending tragedy The
officials who were to perform the execution
slept, the men to be executed slept Two
guards watched the slumber OF each OF the
doomed men. From midnight forward till day
break silence roigned in the Jail